Kukoh: The Chilean Urban Dance Aiming for Contemporary Cultural Heritage Status

What makes a body look «Chilean» while dancing? This question fuels the work of Bruto Company, an ensemble founded in 2023 by dancer Kevin Oyola (Kevin OD) and linked to the Flow de Raíz collective, which created the «Corte Chilenero» research lab in 2021, focused on body and musical exploration.

On Sunday, May 31, in Santiago, the company will lead an open workshop dedicated to the development of kukoh, a style that fuses elements inspired by cueca and various Chilean popular expressions with influences from hip-hop, K-pop, and other contemporary urban dances.

The initiative aims to transcend mere stylistic fusion. The goal is to cultivate a contemporary urban dance rooted in everyday Chilean experiences: movements characterized by shifts, flourishes, and footwork—rebranded within kukoh as “catimbeos”—along with recognizable gestures from local popular culture.

«The intention is not to redefine traditional folklore, but rather to explore how we inhabit our bodies today in Chile,» the group articulates.

A key aspect of the process has been observing everyday gestures: postures, walking styles, or spontaneous movements like the traditional finger snapping known as “chispiá,” a gesture once featured in ancient Chilean dances.

Global Influences

While kukoh aspires to build a local identity, it is heavily influenced by global elements. Many of its performers come from scenes related to K-pop and other contemporary urban dance styles.

For Bruto Company, this blend does not represent a contradiction; rather, it serves as the foundation for imagining new forms of cultural heritage emerging from Chilean youth.

Event Details

Corte Chilenero Workshop — Bruto Company
Sunday, May 31
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Doctor Sótero del Río 77, La Florida
(A few steps from Rojas Magallanes Metro Station)
Free
For more information, visit cortechilenero.com